Improving Water Quality in the Tijuana River Valley

Project #9: Treat Wastewater from the International Collector at the SBWRP

Overview

This project includes improvements to convey untreated
wastewater generated in Mexico to the South Bay Water
Reclamation Plant (SBWRP) for treatment. The project also
reduces the amount of untreated wastewater sent to the
existing San Antonio de los Buenos wastewater treatment plant
(SABTP) in Mexico. This project will:

•	Use the SBWRP to treat 15 MGD1 wastewater from
Mexico and reduce flows to the SABTP.

•	Result in speedier implementation and less construction.

•	Include a new on-site solids processing facility is
included in the cost estimates.

Project at a Glance

Location of
Operations

Entry Points
Addressed

Targeted
Pollutant(s)

United States

SAB Creek

Untreated Wastewater

COST ESTIMATES

Capital

$105M

Annual 0&M2

$18M

40-year lifecycle

$759M

SAB CREEK IMPACT
Annual Impact

Flow rate reduction

26%

Sewage reduction4

50%

TRANSBOUNDARY TIJUANA RIVER
IMPACT3
(Annual Benefit)

Flow day reduction

-

Flow rate reduction

-

Sewage reduction

-

Will this project increase public health and beach
water quality?

This project will reduce impacts to the U.S. coast by capturing
and treating wastewater from Tijuana that would otherwise be
discharged to the Pacific Ocean without adequate treatment
from SABTP. This project is expected to enhance recreational
opportunities.

Does this project improve work conditions for
government activities?

This project is expected to reduce health risks among Navy
personnel who train along the beachfront near the U.S. Navy
Base in San Diego, California. However, it will not resolve
existing impacts to U.S. Border Patrol operations and
personnel, who are sometimes exposed to untreated
wastewater while performing their job duties near border
infrastructures.

BEACH CLOSURE IMPACTS
(Annual Benefit)

Closure reduction5	32%

LEGEND

1	MGD: million gallons per day

2	O&M: Operations and maintenance

3	No anticipated impacts to Tijuana River

4	Estimates of sewage reduction are based
on the reduction of BOD (biochemical
oxygen demand), a standard surrogate for
sewage

5	Beach closure reduction estimates are
based on Scripps Institution of
Oceanography models

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NW
Waves
(Winter)

Imperial

Project 9: Treat Wastewater from the International Collector at the

SBWRP

San Diego

South Bay
Ocean
Outfall

PACIFIC
OCEAN

Northern Current
(Summer)

UNITED STATES

MEXICO

PB CILA

San Antonio de
Ios Buenos
(SAB) Creek

Tijuana

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